Dialogue Over Division the Generation's Test

Jul 31 , 2026. By Binyam Tamene ( Binyam Tamene (binyam.ecmaa@gmail.com) is the founder and executive director of the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association of Massachusetts, United States. )

The ongoing national dialogue can begin to heal a divided country, but only if it is transparent, inclusive and matched by stronger institutions, and only if every side rejects violence, writes Binyam Tamene (binyam.ecmaa@gmail.com), the founder and executive director of the Ethiopian Community Mutual Assistance Association of Massachusetts, United States.

There are moments in a country's history when its leaders have to rise above political division and act in the national interest. I believe Ethiopia has reached such a moment.

Years of armed conflict, polarisation, economic hardship, inflation and widespread displacement have left many Ethiopians uncertain about their country’s future. Whether in Addis Abeba or across the regions, citizens increasingly share one conviction. The country cannot continue on its present path without risking deeper instability.

I write these reflections not as a politician or an academic but as someone who has spent more than four decades working with Ethiopian immigrants in Massachusetts, United States, serving thousands of Ethiopians from diverse ethnic, religious and political backgrounds. Their experiences have given me a profound appreciation for Ethiopia's diversity and a deep understanding of the divisions that continue to unsettle our country.

My recent visits reinforced my impressions. In Addis Abeba, I spoke with professionals, business leaders, religious figures, community elders and ordinary citizens whose politics ranged from strong support for the current government to sharp criticism of it. Despite their differences, they voiced remarkably similar aspirations. They want peace, security, economic opportunity and a political system that treats all citizens fairly and assures them their voices matter.

These conversations have convinced me that Ethiopia stands at a decisive crossroads. The difficulties are immense, but not insurmountable if we approach them with honesty, courage and a genuine commitment to reconciliation.

The present crisis did not emerge overnight. It is the product of years of unresolved constitutional disputes, competing political visions, weakened trust and institutions that many no longer regard as impartial. As these problems accumulated, compromise grew harder and polarisation more severe.

The responsibility for reversing that trajectory rests first with those who govern. Leadership is measured not in times of stability but in times of crisis. It calls for the courage to listen to criticism, the willingness to compromise, and the wisdom to put the country’s interest above short-term advantage.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the government established the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission in 2024 and appointed 11 commissioners to lead what was presented as an “independent national process.” Although the Commission has repeatedly affirmed its independence, public scepticism remains understandable. In a society where trust has eroded, independence should not only exist. It should be seen.

To its credit, the Commission has undertaken extensive consultations, engaging community elders, religious leaders, civic organisations, women, youth, political actors and diverse ethnic communities, seeking to identify both the issues that divide Ethiopians and the areas where consensus may still be possible. Those discussions have now culminated in a national forum ongoing in Addis Abeba, involving about 4,000 participants.

Expectations are high. Some hope the process will produce recommendations for constitutional reform. Others believe it could lay the groundwork for a broader settlement. Whatever the outcome, no single meeting can resolve decades of mistrust. Even so, it offers an opportunity to begin rebuilding confidence among citizens and between society and the state.

That chance will be realised only if the process is guided by principles that inspire confidence rather than deepen suspicion. Transparency is essential. Ethiopians should be able to trust that the discussions are open, that differing viewpoints are genuinely heard, and that recommendations reflect honest deliberation rather than predetermined outcomes.

Inclusiveness matters as much. Sustainable peace cannot be achieved if major political voices or significant parts of society are shut out. The ruling party, its opponents, civil society, religious institutions, women, youth and marginalised communities all need meaningful opportunities to take part, because durable reconciliation requires broad national ownership.

Dialogue, however, is not simply about bringing people together. Its purpose is to create common ground for people with profoundly different perspectives to coexist peacefully within one political system. No group is likely to secure everything it seeks, but each should feel it has been heard and treated fairly.

An honest reckoning with history is part of that. Grievances should be neither ignored nor exploited for political gain, but turned into a basis for mutual understanding. A nation cannot build a stable future while captive to unresolved disputes about its past.

Political dialogue also has to be accompanied by stronger institutions. Independent courts, credible elections, professional and non-partisan security forces and respect for fundamental rights should not be seen as luxuries. They are the foundations of lasting peace.

Even the most carefully negotiated agreements are unlikely to endure if citizens lack confidence in the institutions meant to uphold them.

Economic recovery has to remain a priority too. For millions, the immediate concerns are jobs, rising living costs, access to education and healthcare, and food security. Political stability and economic opportunity reinforce one another, and without real improvement in daily life, lasting peace will be difficult to sustain.

Perhaps most important, every political actor should reject violence as a means of pursuing political ends. Ethiopia has already paid an immeasurable human and economic price through years of conflict, and every further loss of life deepens mistrust and makes reconciliation harder.

Differences of opinion are inevitable in any democracy. Violence never should be. The governing party carries a particular responsibility here. As the holder of state authority, it can strengthen public confidence through concrete acts.

Protecting civil liberties, respecting political pluralism, upholding the rule of law and faithfully implementing the dialogue's outcomes would show that the process is meant to unite the country rather than merely manage tension.

Opposition groups have their own responsibilities.

Constructive criticism is indispensable, but criticism alone cannot resolve national crises. Opposition leaders need to engage in good faith, seek practical compromise and place Ethiopia's long-term interest above short-term advantage.

The Commission, then, should be seen neither as a cure-all nor as a symbolic exercise, but as a rare opportunity to begin rebuilding trust. Whether it succeeds will depend not only on the Commission but on the political will of the incumbent, the opposition, civil society, religious institutions and citizens across the country.

My years with Ethiopians in the diaspora, and my recent conversations at home, leave me cautiously optimistic. Hope does not mean ignoring the scale of our difficulties. It means believing that societies burdened by deep division can still choose reconciliation over confrontation when leaders and citizens alike commit to the common good.

For all our disagreements and diverse identities, most Ethiopians share strikingly similar hopes. They want to raise their children in safety, earn a decent living, receive equal justice and help shape the country's future. Above all, they want peace.

The future of Ethiopia will not be secured through military victories, political slogans or constitutional debates held apart from the people. It will be secured through dialogue, accountable leadership, democratic institutions, mutual respect and a willingness to compromise in the national interest.

History will judge this generation of leaders not by the elections they won or the speeches they gave, but by whether they had the wisdom and courage to preserve peace and leave a country more united, just and more hopeful than the one they inherited.

If Ethiopians choose dialogue over division and reconciliation over conflict, the National Dialogue may become more than a political exercise. It may mark the beginning of a more peaceful and democratic chapter, an opportunity before us now that should not be squandered.

PUBLISHED ON Jul 31,2026 [ VOL 27 , NO 1370]